Tom Merrill, a cowpuncher, and his pals, after seeing "Grouchy" Bill upbraid his wife, decide upon a plan to tame Bill. Tom takes Mary, Bill's wife, into his confidence, tor the purpose to pose as Bill's mother-in-law. Bill is grouchy from the moment the mother-in-law arrives. When he refuses to carry the grip and follow the orders of mother-in-law, he is overpowered by the muscular woman, and made to obey her will. Bill goes to the cowboys, and asks them to saddle up the worst bucking horse on the ranch, and he will take his mother-in-law for a ride. Tom, in the role of mother-in-law, rides the horse with ease, and Bill finally comes to understand that his supposed mother-in-law is really Tom Merrill, cowpuncher, and he is thoroughly tamed.